Electric sign



Dec. 29, 1931. y H4 W. LAWRENCE 1,838,415

ELECTRIC SIGN Filed Nov. 22, 1930 Patented Dec. 29, 1931 uni'rlazn STATES PATNT' o1=fF1c|3- HARRY W. LAWRENCE, or DENVER, coLoRAno, AssIGNoR, EY `JJIREC'I AND MESNE As- .1

SIGNMENTS, To JEWELITE INC.,

A CORPORATION OF Y('JVOLOIEtAjDO o ELECTRIC SIGN Appncanon mea November 22",4 193e. vsemi Naeeaszs. j

This invention` relates to an electric sign and has for its principal object the provision of a sign which will produce a brilliant, glistening elfect both by dayand night. This principal object is accomplished by means of a series of small cut' or molded lenses or jewels, preferably of the type having a multitude of angularly positioned facets.

It has been found that satisfactory results can not be obtained from such lenses or jewels if they are illuminated bymeans of direct light rays from behind. Direct light rays produce a spotty effect, that is, some of the jewels will be illuminated and perhaps parts of others, the remainder being totally without illumination. This apparently is caused by the fact that the direct light rays are refracted at a certain angle by each facet. Therefore. only certain of these rays will strike the eye so that the remainder of the facets and jewels will remain dark,

Another object of this invention is to avoid the above uneven illumination and 4illuminate all of the facets of all of the jewels so as to form a uniformly brilliant effect. It has been found that this can be accomplished by preventing direct rays from the light source or sources from striking the jewels and by illuminating them totally by diffused reflected light. In this way the light strikes the jewels at an infinite number of angles so that each facet will refract the light in Van infinite number of angles. Therefore, no.

matter from which angle the sign is viewed one or more of the rays from each facet will strike the eye and all ofthe facets of all of the jewels will appear brilliantly illuminated.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and efficiency. These will become more apparent from the following description. j t

In the following detailed description of the invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings which forms a part here of. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawings and throughout the drawings.

vIn the drawings: n y. F1g.1 is a. perspective view of the invention constructed to display in outlinea single letter. It is, of course, tobe understood that l 'the' sign could be made in any size or shape tocarr'y out complete words, characters, d1splays, etc. j A Fig.' 2 is a horizontal section, taken onV the inne aaa, Fig. 1.

Fig.: 3 isa detail perspective view at the inside of the sign face.

The inventioncomprises a sign face 10 adapted to carry any desired idisplay, 'or character, such as illustrated at 11. The character 11 is illuminated bymeans of a looking series of small jewel-like lenses 12. Another way to form the sign face would' be to have the entireface covered with lenses and have the'characters themselves without lenses or with lenses of a di'erent color. The sign face 10 is covered at itsback by meansV of aV suitable sign box 13 which should be imper-A` viousto' the passageof light. The inside of the sign box should be covered Awith white or aluminum paint or be providedwith some similar light reflecting and diffusing material. v

` The electriclamps which illuminate the lenses 12- are indicatedat 14. yIt will be noted that these lamps are carried uponther sign face lQso astobe positioned `alongside of the lenses 12. The `lamps 114 may be supported in any desired manner. As illustrated they are supported in a continuous, current carrying molding 15, such as illustrated more in detail iny applicants co-pe11ding application, Serial No. 497,524.

By positioning the lamps 14 upon the sign face 10, it is practically impossible for any of the direct light rays to be projected outwardly through the lenses 12. To further prevent the direct rays from striking the lenses, shields 16 may be provided between the lamps 14 and the lenses to prohibit any direct rays from` striking the lenses.

- lt will be noted that the only light reaching the inside face of the lenses 12 is that reflected from the interior surfaces of the box 13, and` i vi number of points on these surfaces and enters the lenses at an infinite number of'angles so that no matter at what angle the lenses 12 are viewed7 light rays will strike the eye from all of the facets from each of the lenses creating a uniformly brilliant eect throughout the entire series` oflenses.

lVhile a specic form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it 10 is desired to be understood that the same 4may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing` from the spirit ofl the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is l'1. An electric sign comprising: .a sign face perforatedto outline a sign character; a sign box closing the rear of said sign face; electric lamps carried by said sign face; faceted lenses carried in theperforations insaid sign face; and shields projecting inwardly from said signfaceso as to shield'said lamps. andv pre vent the direct rays thereof from Vpassing through said lenses, said shields forming an inwardly projecting outline for said sign character. V2.An electric sign comprising: a sign box; asign face outlining a-sign character in said sign box ;-al series of lenses carried by said sign face; means for illuminating said lenses from the interior of the box; andshields for preventing the direct rays of light from said illuminatingmeans for impinging upon said A lenses7 said lamps forming a border upon the interior of the sign face about said-sign character.

3. In an electric-sign having va series of jewels outlining a sign character in a sign facefan inwardly projectingshieldi'on the rear of said sign Aface having-an outline corresponding to said sign character and bordering the latter; and a series of lamp globes carried upon the rear of saidsign face about said shield.

ln testimony whereof, I affix mv signature.

HARRY w. LAWRENCE. 

